Readers don't need to have read previous Virgin River books as they can pick this up and run with the stories. The characters are fresh to the series and each novella is to the point, not wandering all around town meeting established characters. There is a friendly atmosphere and a positive message throughout. However I believe some stories were previously issued.The first tale shows a young woman who runs a hairdressing shop, on her way home to her parents' farm. She stops in Virgin River to look at the big town Christmas tree and spots a box of abandoned pups. Luckily she knows how to care for them, and maybe the new veterinarian can help. He's got other advantages, too.A depressed and angry young woman who wasted years with a guy who dumped her, has no intention of going to the New Year party and enjoying herself. She's persuaded to go, and as it happens there's a decent young man present who'd like a kind girl to kiss at midnight. If he can get her to speak to him....Last is a novella which I believe was previously issued, set during a milder season. A landscaper works on a property when he sees a girl come back to town, divorced and with kids. He's reminded of how they used to date. Too long ago - or is it?This is an adult romance with light emphasis on the bedroom and more on decency and commitment. Readable and good fun. I received an ARC from Net Galley for my honest opinion. This was my first Robyn Carr read. Some people love her and others find her too sweet and sugary; I wanted to see for myself. She writes small town romances, which I enjoy. I thought an anthology might be a good way to jump into this series. I enjoyed the stories, though none were spectacular. I am interested enough to read more in the series and maybe I'll even start with book one. :DUnder the Christmas Tree - This was cute and sweet and grabbed right away with its hook of abandoned puppies, or boppies as one child calls them. There are adorable boppies! :D Nate and Annie were wonderful together and despite the Norman Rockwell feel to their families, felt real, like the next door neighbors. Annie was a little too perfect at times and the development of their relationship was too fast. Maybe a longer story would have helped with that. Their relationship felt rushed and the timing is a little implausible. But I enjoyed the story. 3 starsMidnight Confessions - This was a sequel of sorts to "Under the Christmas Tree" though the leads aren't Nate and Annie but Nate's niece Sunny and Drew, an out-of-towner with local ties. The story occurs just on New Year's Eve, a week after Nate and Annie's story ends. Both Sunny and Drew are recovering from broken engagements. It's an emotional story with lots of nuance. There's a lot packed into this novella despite the short time frame. It's sweet and hopeful with a HFN ending. 3.5 starsBackward Glance - This one was not a Virgin River story nor was it a holiday story. I'm not sure why it was included. If you like second chance romances or opposites attract, you might like this one. It didn't work for me but that had more to do with the characters themselves. HEA. My main problem was that I didn't feel the heat between the leads, John and Leigh. They had a summer romance five years when she was separated from her husband. Leigh was a genius and a scientific prodigy while John never even went to college and is a manual laborer. He was somewhat insecure at the time and she was socially awkward and insecure. They had a series of misunderstandings and split up. She went back to her husband and got a divorce while John married and divorced in a matter of months. Back together after five years, they have still more misunderstandings plus Leigh's meddling mother and her cronies. The meddling was extreme at times and personally I found it annoying. I never warmed up to Leigh, I just couldn't relate to her or understand her. John was easier to warm up to. Both of them could be annoying with their insecurities and just as important, I never felt the heat or passion or love between them. I couldn't buy into their romance. 2 stars
Do You like book 'Tis The Season (2014)?
Good, very short novellas, perfect for a Christmas read. I love all the characters in Virgin River.
—becca
Two novellas set in Virgin River. Awesome. (Did not read the third)
—JessicaRoa777
Three short stories in this book and I loved them all.
—Amber
